What Ibuprofen Does To Your Body? Here Are the Possible Side Effects!

Doctors advise: Stop taking ibuprofen! Why? What ibuprofen does to your body? Is it safe to take Ibuprofen? We shall answer these questions and list the possible side effects as well.

What Happens To the Body When You Take Ibuprofen?

Ibuprofen belongs to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and has antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used in a number of conditions, especially in cases of pain of inflammatory origin, such as arthritis, traumatic pain, inflammation of the teeth, etc. The drug is a widely sold over-the-counter pain and fever medication used by millions of people around the world. Surprisingly or not, people who take this analgesic are not aware of the potential health risks. Due to the fact that the pain killer is cheap and easily available, people consider it to be harmless and hardly anyone reads the product leaflet.

Thanks to its anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic effects, Ibuprofen is one of the effective drugs for flu and colds. However, the drug helps symptomatically – i.e., helps the body control the symptoms of the disease, but does not destroy viruses. Medicines containing ibuprofen are manufactured by many pharmaceutical companies and sold under various trade names. Its ingredients help reduce fever and pain, but it is very important to know that the drug is intended for short-term use!

What Ibuprofen Does To Your Body and Is It Safe to Take Ibuprofen Every Day?

Many over-the-counter oral medications for pain and fever are available on the market. When choosing a drug you need to pay attention to two main factors:

• How effective the drug is? Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen or diclofenac are effective in relieving mild to moderate pain and lowering fever.
• Is the medicine suitable for you? Not every painkiller is suitable for everyone. Some people need to be especially careful in choosing the right analgesic.

The age of the person in need of a painkiller is an important factor to consider when choosing a painkiller and you need to know what ibuprofen does to your body. Be careful when giving medicines to children, as children and adults react differently to medicines. For example, while adults can take aspiring to prevent heart attack or stroke, children under the age of 16 should avoid this medicine because of the potential risk of a serious disease known as Reye’s syndrome, which can affect the brain and liver.

Older people should also be careful when choosing a painkiller. With age, the body no longer functions as well as when the organism of young people. In addition to suffering from various health problems, e.g. joint pain and heart disease, the elderly are more at risk of side effects when taking a new medicine. For elderly people it is important to choose an analgesic that works effectively and can be taken in combination with other medicines that they take.

Considerations to Keep in Mind if You Take Ibuprofen Every Day?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually prescribed by doctors to relieve pain, lower fever, and discomfort in people with arthritis. Ibuprofen effectively relieves headaches, muscle aches, toothaches, menstrual cramps, etc. Despite that, older people are at particularly high risk of complications with ibuprofen for a long time. These complications can also occur in younger people, especially if they take the medicine for a long time every day.

In addition, you should know that Ibuprofen can interact negatively with medications like:

• blood pressure lowering drugs and diuretics
• immunosuppressive drugs
• heart medication
• blood thinners
• other painkillers form the NSAID group.
• some antibiotics
• some medicines to treat HIV
• steroids

How Much Ibuprofen Can I Take?

This is one of the common questions that people ask. The dosage of Ibuprofen will depend on the strength of the tablets, the age and the particular medical problem. Usually, a tablet or capsule contains 200mg, 400mg or 600mg of ibuprofen while a sachet of granules contains 600mg of ibuprofen and slow release capsules may contain even 800mg of the drug. It is obvious that you need to consult and follow your doctor’s instructions when taking any medicine, including Ibuprofen. If you decide to buy the medicine from a pharmacy or a drug store, make sure to check the label and read the leaflet.

Generally, the recommended dose of ibuprofen for adults is 1200 mg per day – i.e. 200-400 mg every 4-6 hours.

What Happens If You Combine Ibuprofen and Alcohol?

It is not a good idea to consume alcohol while on ibuprofen therapy. The problem is that alcohol can increase the negative side effects of the drug – especially irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. In combination with alcohol, ibuprofen is more aggressive to the mucous membranes and can cause irritation, pain and internal bleeding.

The work of the kidneys and the liver will be more difficult. In addition, in some cases, ibuprofen causes dizziness, poor coordination, drowsiness and visual disturbances – especially with prolonged use or at higher doses. Taking Ibuprofen in combination with alcohol creates hazards when working with machines or cutting tools. It is also not advisable to drive.

What Are the Side Effects of Ibuprofen?

It is very important to understand what ibuprofen does to your body and how it can affect your health. People often neglect these symptoms simply because it does not occur to them that, for example, a burning sensation in the stomach can be because of the painkiller. Let’s see the side effects of Ibuprofen!

What Are the Possible Side Effects of Ibuprofen to the Stomach?

Long-term daily intake of ibuprofen can also cause gastrointestinal bleeding. This is a life-threatening condition if not treated at an early stage. Signs and symptoms of it are vomiting blood and black tarry stools.

Does Ibuprofen Affect the Kidney Function?

Taking ibuprofen daily for several years can lead to permanent kidney failure. Statistics show that 4 out of every 100,000 people develop this complication. Women over the age of 30 are particularly at risk. Acute renal failure can occur in people who already have some degree of kidney disease. Old age and increased alcohol consumption in combination with ibuprofen can also lead to kidney failure.

Does Ibuprofen Cause Skin Reactions?

Long-term use of ibuprofen can lead to many skin reactions. The skin may become dry, itchy and flaky and lose its elasticity.

Other side effects of ibuprofen are:

• Diarrhea
• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Ulcers
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Tinnitus
• Decreased urine volume
• Constipation, etc.

In conclusion, we should remind, that Ibuprofen is appropriate for treating various symptoms – especially those associated with pain and fever. However, always read the leaflet, especially if bought it from a pharmacy without a prescription and remember that it is best if you consult your doctor for the recommended daily dose for your condition.